Knockdown and collapsible crate.



N0. 637,06L Patented N'ov. I4, |899. W. R. AMBRUSE.-

KNGCKDOWN AND CULLAPSIBLE CRATE.

(Application led Hay 13, 1899.)

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No. 637,0sl. Patenfed Nov. 14, |899.

`W. R. AMBRSE. KNDCKDOWN AND COLLAPSIBLE CRATE.

(Appliembn filed my 1s, 1899.) (No Model.) 2 Sheqts-Shee 2.

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YUNITED- -STA5I`ES y PATENT OFFICE.

' WILLIAM R. AMBRosE, or SHEFFIELD, ALABAMA.

KNooKDowN AND coLLAPslBLl-z CRATE.'

SPECIFICATION forming part of' Lettere Patent No. 637,061, dated November 14, 1899.

Application niet Mey 1s, 1899.I

To ctZZ whom t may concern: Y Y

Be it known that I, WILLIAM R. AMBRosE, j a citizen of the United States, residing at Shefl eld, in the county of Colbert and State of Alabama, have invented new and useful Improvements in Knockdown and Collapsible Qrates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to knockdown or collapsible crates for shipping produce, poultry, eggs, and the like, and has for its object to combine with a crate made of telescopic sections improved means for locking the sections in both their extended and folded orcollapsed positions.

It has for its further object to improve and simplify the construction and render more convenient the operation of this class of crates generally.

To these ends my invention consists in the features and in the construction, combina-` tion, and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, and particularly pointedout in the claims following the descriptiomreference loeing had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved crate, showing the sections in their eX- tended position. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken through one corner of the crate. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view illustrating one of the hinges of the cover. Fig. 4 is a similar view of one of the turn-buttons. Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views of a slightly-modified form of spring-catch, and also showing modified means for retracting the catches'. l

Referring to the drawings, the' numerals l and 2 indicate, respectively, the two sections of a crate made in accordance with my invention, the numeral 1 indicating the' lower orouter section and 2 the upper or inner section. Each of the sections comprises a foursided rectangular frame consisting of four upright corner posts or standards 3, connected together at their tops and bottoms by rails or bars 4, and to the inner edges of the rails and posts are attached panels 5, of wire-netting or other reticulated or foraminous material, or the open spaces in the sides of. the sections may be slotted or wired in a well-known and usual manner. To one of the lower side rails 4 of the lower section 1 is hinged a bottom 6,

Serial No. 716,740. (No model.)

y 'and in the opposite side rail are arranged turnbuttons 7, adapted to project through slots 8 formed in the bottom 6 and hold the latter closed. The turn-buttons 7 consist each of a rod or wire bent to form an oblong loop 9, from the center of which projects a stem 10, the end of the'latter being bent at a right angle, as at l1. Holes'are bored through the rail, and the stems of the turn-buttons are inserted therein, after which the ends 11 are bent, as shown, over the upper edge of the rails. Metallic plates or clips 1 2 are nailed to the edge of the rail over the bent ends 11 of the turnbuttons to prevent any endwise movement of the latter, and said clips also serve to create a frictional resistance on the ends of the turn-buttons, and thus aid in preventing the accidental turning of the latter. When the bottom 6 is closed against the under side of the lower section 1, the turn-buttons project through the slots 8 inl the bottom and the loops 9 are turned at right angles to the slots, thereby holding the bottom securely against the under side of the lsection 1. v

Hinged to the upper section .2 is a cover 13. The edges of the lcover 13 project beyond the sides of the section 2, so that when the latter is lowered into or nestedin the section 1 the cover 13 rests on the upper rails ofthe lower section. The cover 13 is preferably hinged to the upper section in thefollowing manner: Formed in the'outer edges of the uppenends of each of the rear posts or standards 3 of the upper section is a vertical groove or kerf 14, and'on a nail 15, driven into said post transversely to the bottom of the groove, is pivoted one end of a llink 16, the other end of which is pivotally connectedtoja staple 17, driven into the under side of the cover. When the cover is closed, the links 16 lie in the grooves 14 and permit the cover to close flat against the top of the upper section; but when the cover is opened or lifted thelinks swing automatically and downwardly, permitting the cover to drop down into the position shown in dotted lines, thus giving free access to the open top of thel section on all sides for convenience in packing. This or some'equivalent means for hin ging the cover is employed for the reason that, owing tothe edges4 of the cover projecting beyond the sides of the section in the manner described, ordinaryleaf IooV hinges, if employed, would not permit the cover to be raised or swung up beyond a vertical-position. Arranged in the front upper railli of the upper section are turn-buttons 18, similar in all respects to the turn-buttons? before described, and said turn-buttons are adapted to project through slots 19, formed in the front edge of the cover, when the latter is closed, and when turned at right angles to said slots operate to holdA the cover securely fastened.

Pivoted in the rear upper rail of the lower section is a turn-button 20, similar to the turn-buttons before referred to, and when the upper section is lowered into the lower section the turn-button 20 projects through a slot 21, formed in the rear projecting edge of the cover 13, and when turned at a right angle to said slot operates to lock the two sections together in their nested or telescoped position. It will of course be evident that the location and number of the turn-buttons and the corresponding slots may be varied or altered without affecting the results accomplished.

In order to lock the sections in their extended positions, I provide the following means: The upper inner portion of each of the posts or standards 3 is mortised, as at 22, and in each of said mortises is arranged a spring-catch constructed as follows: The numeral 23 indicates a fiat metallic spring, which is creased or bent at one end to form a loop or eye 24 and at its other end is bent to form a U -shaped hook 25. The catch is disposed in the mortise with its hooked end uppermost, and a nail or pin 26 is driven through the post transversely to the slot and passes through the loop or eye 24,forming a pivot, about which the catch has an oscillating or rocking movement. A coiled spring 27 is disposed between the catch and the post and operates to throw the upper hooked end of the catch inward, and this movementis limited by extending the end v28 of the catch down past the eye or loop 24, so that said end will abut the post at the bottom of the mortise and prevent the spring from throwing the catch inward beyond a certain distance. This is for-the purpose of preventing the spring from being displaced when the sections 1 and 2 are separated. It is manifest that the catch itself may consist of a Iiat spring formed of steel or other suitable material and rigidly attached at its lower end to the post, thus dispensing with the coiled spring, as will more fully hereinafter appear. Journaled in bearings on the under sides of the upper end rails of the lower section are rock-shafts 29, each of which is bent downward at right angles at its opposite ends to form cranks 30, and said cranks are adapted to oscillate in slots 31, formed in the posts and extending through the latter into the mortises 22. To the ends of the cranks are attached wires or similar connections 32, which pass through the slots 3l, and at their inner ends are attached to the hooked ends of the spring-catches. Intermediate their ends the rock-shafts 29 are formed or provided with handles 33, by means of which the rock-shafts may be turned or rocked in their bearings. It will be evident that by turning the handle of either of the rock-shafts in the proper direction the cranks 30 at its opposite ends will be thrown outward and pull the hooked ends of the catches attached thereto into their mortises. In the lower outer edge of each of the posts of the upper section 2 is formed a transverse groove or kerf 34. When the sections are nested together or when the upper section is lowered into the lower section, the ends of the spring-catches will bear against the outer sides of the posts. When, however, the upper section is raised, the moment it reaches its full extended position or, in other words, the moment the kerfs or grooves 34 come opposite the extreme upper bent ends of the hooked portions of the catches, said ends will automatically spring into the kerfs or grooves 34, preventing the entire withdrawal of the upper section and locking it in its raised position. To nest the sections one within the other, it is only necessary to turn the rock-shafts in the manner before described, thus withdrawing the catches, when the upper section will drop by gravity into the lower section, and the two may then be locked together by means of the turn-buttons, as before described.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I have shown a slightlymodiiied form of spring-catch. When constructed as shown in said figures, the coiled springs are dispensed with and the catch 23a itself is made of resilient metal and rigidly fastened at its lower end to the post by screws or similar fastenings, as shown. The catches 23n may be operated from the exterior of the crate by a rock-shaft in the Same manner as described with reference to the catches 23, or an opening 35 may be bored in each of the posts partially to one side of the hooked portion of the catch, so that by inserting a hooked rod or wire or a key the catch may be engaged and drawn outward out of engagement with the kerfs or grooves in the posts of the upper section, as before described.

The crate is adapted for shipping poultry, eggs, fruit, and produce of all kinds, and in some cases-as, for example, when the crate is design ed for shipping po ultry--a bottom or floor 36 may be fitted in the lower end of the upper section 2, and when employed for such purpose doors (not shown) will be provided IOO IIO

2 will be lowermost or beneath the section 1, and in such case a loose floor or partition may be arranged to rest on the section 2 at the bottom of section l to support the weight of the fruit'in the latter section and prevent it from bearing upon or crushing the fruit in the section 2.

In Figs. 5 and 6, illustrating the keyin position for retracting the spring-catch, I have shown the key inserted from one side of the spring-catch; but it will be manifest that a perforation maybe formed in the spring-catch, through which the hooked end of the key may be inserted and then turned to engage the rear or inner side of the catch.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. Ashipping-crate, consisting of separable telescopin g crate-sections each having a lid at its outer end,concealed spring-catches mounted on the inside portion of one crate-section and automatically springing into engagement with the other crate-section to lock said sections together when extended, means for connecting with and retracting the spring-catches from the exterior of the crate to permit the crate-sections to be lifted one from the other or the inner section to move into the outer section, and devices on the exterior of one crate-section constructed to interlock with the other when the sections are moved into one another, substantially as described.

2. A shipping-crate, consisting of two separable telescopin g crate-sections each having a lid and the lid of the inner crate-section projecting outward beyond the sides thereof to rest against the inner end of the outer cratesection when the crate is collapsed, concealed spring-catches mounted on the inside portion of one crate-section and automatically springing into engagement with the other crate-section to lock the crate-sections together when extended, means for connecting with and retracting the spring-catches from the exterior of the crate to permit the crate-sections to be lifted one from the other or the inner section to mov-e into the outer section, and locking devices carried by the inner end of the outer crate-section for engaging the said projecting edge of the lid on the inner crate-section to rigidly lock said sections together when collapsed, substantially as described.

3. A shipping-crate, consisting of two separable telescopic crate-sections, the outer one having transverse orifices and on its inner side provided with grooves leading, respectively, to said orifices, spring-catches secured in said grooves and having their engaging ends lying opposite the inner ends of said transverse oriiices and constructed to automatically spring' into engagement with the inner crate-section when the crate is extended, means for passing through said orifices from the exterior of the crate and engaging the spring-catches to retract them to permit the crate-sections to be lifted one from the other or the inner section to move into the outer section, and locking devices arranged on the inner end of the outer crate -section and constructed to interlock with the lid of the inner crate-section when the latter is moved into the outer section, substantially as described.

4. A shipping-crate, consisting of inner and outer telescoping crate-sections, the inner section having a lid extended outward from its sides to rest against the inner end of the outer section when the crate is collapsed, concealed catches arranged on the inside portion of the outer section to engage the inner section and lock the crate extended, means for connecting with and retracting the catches from the eX- terior of the crate to permit the crate-sections to be lifted one from the other or the inner section to move into the outer section, and lockingdevices arranged on the exterior of one section and constructed to engage the other when the inner section is moved into the outer to rigidly lock said sections together, substantially as described.

5. A shipping-crate, consisting of two separable telescoping sections, the inner one provided at its outer end with a cover projecting laterally beyond the sides of said section to rest upon the edge of the outermost section when the inner section is moved into the outer section, devices mounted on the inner end of the outer section and constructed to interlock with said projecting part of the lid, and springcatches for locking the sections when extended, substantially as described.

6. In a crate, the combination with two tele scoping sections, the innermost of said sections being provided at its outer end with a cover projecting laterally beyond the sides 01": said section and arranged when the sections are nested together to rest upon the edge of IOO IIO

in their nested positions, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses. i

WILLIAM R. AMBROSE.

Witnesses:

CHAs. H. WESTON, RICHARD GHOATE. 

